Forbidden Fruit: Escape From Earth: Forbidden Fruit, #1

By Deedra Nichole

Book One in the Forbidden Fruit Series. Forbidden Fruit Escape From Earth 

Unit Pam is one of the last natural beings left on the dying earth. Just another number in a gene pool till the Alpha Leader Petrol burns with desire for her. Pam finds herself torn between a mysterious forest dweller Danior Haddow who can only offer to fight till death for her or the handsome Petrol who only provides an escape from the egg farm. With the world slowly dying around her, Pam must make a choice. Fighting to the death with little hope of escaping the dying earth or escape with Petrol to be kept as nothing but DNA for the harvesting. Either choice she makes one thing will remain the same, Pam is the new world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deedra Nichole Editing
• Release date: Apr 9, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393909071

Deedra Nichole

Deedra Nichole has been writing poetry and fiction for many years. She started her writing career as a single mother of two daughters who loved writing stories and poems for her children. She is now remarried and has another daughter with her husband, Onas Hanekamp. Together they own Hanekamp Manor Bikes & Books which showcases their talents. Her husband does bicycle repair and their shop hosts artwork and books that Deedra has created over the years. Deedra is excited to be back behind the keyboard crafting new books her for her readers.

Book preview

The Rise of Power

The room was filled with smoke, as was half the city, as Vladik Petrov burst into it. He knew the dawn of DNA weapons had come. His only desire was to take out the Alpha Unit Leader and gain control over the world. The program had failed them, and the time of global war had come and gone in less than a day. Petrov was not going to become another failed experiment in this new world. He knew the man he once had been and all his ties to that life were now gone. It was time to evolve. 

The leader and his men were caught off guard by Petrov’s defiance. They had been led to believe the human experiments would obey and react just like their computer counterparts.

Looks like we have a rogue Delta Unit. One of the men said as Petrov opened fire on them.

That is not possible! He must have been programmed for assassination by someone. Take him out! The leader replied as he dove for cover behind a desk.

Affirmative. Came a unison reply and electron bullets tore through the air.

Fighting his programming and using his training Petrov systematically disposed of the men one by one. He knew their weaknesses well and had studied for this moment. When he had been recruited, it had become clear to him they had purged more than his memories. It was two years into the program when a malfunction had caused him to regain some of his lost memories. It was too late by then to save his family, and he knew well that if any had escaped, they were now dead. Only those who had been selected to be upgraded genetically could live on the new food sources. What was left of the old world was fading fast and the dawn of flesh and metal had come. Strangely he felt no sorrow and no remorse.

What do you want Unit Delta? Alpha Unit Leader asked him.

I want what you have. Petrov replied.

You are like me in every way Unit Delta. You have what you desire. Came the response from the Alpha Unit Leader.

No. I want to be in control. You have control Unit Alpha. I will be you now. Petrov replied.

The bots could be heard coming closer looking for their leader. Searching to save him. His clearance was recognized as supreme. He was the only Unit Alpha left now. He had seen to the purge himself. One at a time the countries of the world had fallen into his hand. Now one rogue Unit Delta was going to be the end of his rule.

Petrov removed the special software DNA unit and made quick work of the leader. He knew he had only moments to update his status to that of Unit Alpha leader of all worlds. Surprisingly the current Alpha Unit put up no struggle. Fear had rendered him useless. The one emotion denied to the other units had now become his downfall. With the last exchange of unique DNA and micro software units, Petrov ended the life of the last true Alpha Unit.

He was not like the others. Petrov remembered who he was and where he had come from. He felt cold inside, yet he remembered the sun kissing his blond hair and the world his cloudy, sky filled eyes had once seen. He remembered them too. Flesh and blood, but now no longer human to him, or was it that he was no longer human? He could no longer process such thoughts. His time of awakening had come. He was Unit Alpha Leader Vladik Petrov, and his flesh was to rule, and his word was law.

Daddy, you are so funny! Come get me! a child's voice called.

No, Daddy get me! another voice giggled.

The world smelled fresh as though a spring rain had fallen. The sun kissed the waters of the small lake where fishing poles rested. Peaceful and filled with a bright green wall of lush wilderness. The shift came quickly from tranquil beauty to a hard surface and screams. The pain radiated through his body and his mind felt as though it would explode.

No! Petrov said in a tone void of feeling as he sat up from the dream.

Sweat dripped from his shaking body but inside the coldness remained. Sitting alone in his command unit rest chamber Petrov tried to forget.

This is not adherent to my programming. It is not logical. The past is irrelevant, and control of future has been given to me. He said to himself as he pushed away the shreds of humanity that haunted him.

The medical rebuild unit came in checking his body for the cause of distress. Finding nothing to repair it beeped and whirled away out of his chamber. Access was given to his person for only a few essential bots.

I will not make the mistakes of the last Unit Alpha Leader. I will control with perfection those I rule. Petrov thought to himself.

The cold steal room with the hard cot was less than appealing to him today. Something inside the dream still haunted him. Quickly he dressed and with military proficiency marched his way out onto the central command deck. From his point of view, he could see all the screens which monitored the world. Satellites covered the heavens above them like stars. Each with a purpose unique to it.

I am Vladik Petrov Alpha Unit Leader. I rule supreme, control has been given to me. Petrov said to the deck workers.

You are supreme. We hear, and we obey. They replied.

Report to me on the outskirt workers. He ordered.

All outskirt workers are in compliance. Four units have been deleted due to malfunction. Six units born in accordance with outskirt procedure. One unit remains to be matched for regeneration procedures. Came the unified report from the worker units.

Why do we have a single unit? This is not adherent to control procedures? Petrov asked.

Unit 9478 Beta Gamma outskirt authorized replication has become non-compliant. The unit was damaged and has become undetected. The workers again in unison reported.

This is a threat to my control. Send out bots to find and destroy the unit. He responded.

Deep forest of the outskirt has blocked drone bots from the task. Scan shows no life signs emanating from the forest. We await further instructions. They replied.

How badly damaged was the lost unit? Petrov could feel his heart rate rise as he asked for a further report.

Unit had sustained maximum damage. Without medical rebuild bots intervention, self-destruct is assured. They responded robotically blinking their pink eyes in unison as they continued to monitor the screens.

Bring the drones back. Petrov said even though somewhere deep inside him like the rising memories came a feeling from long ago.  Something only a human would recognize was very wrong with what the hive workers had reported.

Hope. Petrov thought as he watched the trees swaying on the screen.

The trees swayed in time to the movements of the bots. Deep inside the lush forest hidden from the long-range scans by way of a disrupter wall were the ones who had gone rogue over the years. Danior Haddow leader of the forest resistance was protecting them. They had been pleased to find natural foods that grew in the forest to eat. None of the wildlife seemed to be facing the mass starvation the Alpha Leader claimed was responsible for the need for DNA upgrade and consume replication foods. Danior and the others slipped through shadows making their way just beyond the scans of the bots. 

Petrov had no idea that what was growing inside the outskirt forest. It was something greater than he could remember. His mind had been reset to no longer register emotions, except for one. Desire burned inside him. He didn’t understand it without the other emotions. The one word, hope, made him desire to crush the forest and all in it. He knew he needed the trees and it was logical that the creative ones must be kept too. He needed what they gave him to rule.

I must know what has happened to the lost ones. I need to see into the forest with my own eyes. Petrov thought to himself as he stood gazing out into the city he had created from ashes.

Demetri Marashov was the only one Petrov had ever found to be indispensable. Something inside him could not let Demetri go. Maybe it was a hidden part of his humanity that the failed purge conversion missed. Friendship was not in the hive way, yet Petrov had Demetri, and it seemed Demetri had Petrov.

It is not like you to waste time, Demetri said in a flat, robotic tone.

It is not like you to question my authority. Petrov said in an equally flat tone.

There are rumors, Demetri stated.

Report. Petrov said in a dark tone.

It has been reported that night watch has found strains of unmatched DNA close to the waste facilities. Some are claiming to have seen strange creatures at the forest edge. Demetri replied.

I thought the hive said there have been no life signs coming from the forest only those of a few animals here and there? Petrov felt ice growing inside his soul as he spoke.

If there were a cloaking device or covert shield placed at the heart of the forest, we would not find any signs, Demetri replied.

Hope. Petrov spat the word out like acid.

I am not familiar with that word, Demetri said as he studied Petrov’s face.

No, I do not remember it either. Not the feeling of it, but the danger I can recall. Petrov said in a monotone voice.

Is it dangerous to have? Demetri replied.

Not for us, no. My enemies, however, should not look to it. Petrov showed signs of rage for the first time since his conversion.

Be careful Alpha Unit Leader. You are showing signs of aggression. You made the rules, but the bots enforce them. Demetri said in a flat tone.

I know how to control the bots and myself too. Rule has been given to me. Have you forgotten it is my DNA that now controls the system matrix? Petrov replied.

I have not forgotten. You are my leader even if it is to my death. Demetri said.

Deep inside Petrov, he felt something awaken. It was a memory of something long ago from a time when he was human. He stood and studied Demetri. He had authority to kill and to give life. Nothing was done that Petrov did not have control over, nothing except Demetri and his loyalties. Friendship no longer existed it was not the hive way. Petrov couldn’t understand his current reliance on a friendship with Demetri. Somehow the word friendship carried less bitterness than hope did. Friendship would be added only to the select few of his group above the hive. Petrov had made his first move towards his desire.

Demetri, I will give our status Friend. Petrov said with no emotion.

I don’t understand. Friend is not in our current status reports. Demetri stated robotically.

I will upload it now. You will be made to understand. Petrov said

Affirmative, Demetri replied.

Failed experiments should always stay together. Petrov thought to himself as he quickly hooked himself to the central DNA functional computer.

Meanwhile, on the edge of the forest one loan figure could be seen skirting the forest trees and reaching out to touch the ectoplasm wall with a tool which sent a hole opening wide. Quickly and with stealth a line formed of creatures passing old bits of computer parts, weapons, and general trash down into the forest like ants that had found food. Hope burned into the night and scampered back closing the portal hole behind it. Leaving only one witness behind sitting in a tree singing to the night air on the outskirt side of the world.

Sparkling like diamonds the stars danced in the milky dark sky. A lone star streaked through the blackness of heaven as Pam watched.

They look like hundreds of eyes watching me. She said to no one.

Pam was used to being alone. Tonight, was just the usual star gazing bliss. A breeze lifted her hair towards heaven. She sat wishing for something more than her normal life. Pam blinked and couldn't believe her eyes. It seemed as though a few clusters of stars had moved together in unison across the sky.

It had been a long time since Pam dared to defy the orders of the leader. None of the other Outskirt Units would have dared to be out after dark without orders. She knew it was risky and that if she weren’t careful, the sky tracker bots would catch her.

Curiosity filled her as she watched the stars dance and she wondered if they were really stars or if maybe she was witnessing space cars driving through the night sky.

I had best get myself back inside before the bots come to make their rounds. She thought to herself.

It wasn’t long after Pam had sneaked back inside that the sky tracker bots made their rounds. She lay still and prayed a silent prayer to God that they wouldn't find evidence of her daring disobedience. As the sound of their gears turning and their beeps to each other vanished Pam let out a deep sigh of relief.

Freedom was something that had vanished long ago. It was said that the last of the old thinkers were killed in 2025 as the progressive party took over. Old documents were destroyed, and new computer generated documents replaced all old archived papers.

The great burn was just a children's story some say. It was made up to frighten the youth and keep them from asking too many undesired questions. Pam knew this story had its roots in some truth. She had a dark family secret that she was loath to part with.

The current year 3030 boasted of the most significant digital masterworks mankind created. No paper was to be found anywhere. Paper was outlawed during the time of the great burn. Only government-controlled digital works where permitted. Every word you typed was seen by the watchers. Nothing that was against the current political endorsements would be allowed to be published. Purge software was on every device.

Pam was blessed that her family was known as artists. The ability to mix paint and create beautiful artwork gave them the exclusive right to learn words on plastic sheets. These sheets were often called clears and could be wiped clean. Special refillable tools where used with them to produce the words.

As a family of exceptional artists, they were given many exclusions from the government-controlled populace. One was the luxury of privacy. While the bots would patrol outside their homes and do scans, they were programmed not to enter the homes themselves.

The gift of art was said to be something you are born with. It was not something you could teach. Pam had never been to a government school because her mother and father had the gift. She too was in possession by birth of the gift. She was given instruction at home to keep the gift secret and safe from the general populace.

In her home, the gift was studied and understood. In a small room hidden below was a tiny room of secrets. When Pam had turned eighteen, her mother and father took her into it and showed her the secret book before the bots had come to take them to the egg farm. 

I can still smell those pages. What a wonderful thing to hold words in my hands! Pam thought as she lay watching the digital clock blink.

Why would anyone burn the hand words and all the wonders they hold? Pam had struggled with that question for years.

She knew her mother and father were dead now, but she still felt them around her. The day had come when they both were too weak to continue the work the leader required of them. She watched as they were taken away into the city and as the Unit Beta Gamma workers brought back small jars. Pam watched them being spilled out into the air over a small group of trees. Something inside her realized the dust was what was left of her beloved parents.

Pam let her mind drift to the Alpha Unit Leader and her last assignment. She hated him but did not dare to say so not even in her mind. The daily work he gave her was not fulfilling yet she felt privileged to be somewhat free because of it. The outskirts were off limits to the general populace except for the handful of artists that required it for inspiration.

"He would be a handsome man if